A gift guide for the Virginian in your life

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- As the holiday season approaches, it gets harder and harder each year to buy a gift for the person in your life that already has everything. If they're from Virginia however, 8News might be able to help you narrow down the choices. Virginia Peanuts A smiling peanut. This image was taken from the card inserted in peanut candy dispensing machine often found outside stores like supermarkets to entice children to part with coins for a treat of a toy. Artist unknown (Photo by Pierce Archive LLC/Buyenlarge via Getty Images) It may sound simple, but this Virginia food staple is known throughout the nation as a special version of the crop. According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, Virginia Peanuts are the largest out of the peanut varieties grown throughout the United States, making them not just the perfect ballpark snack, but a thoughtful gift to a native Virginian. From raw, roasted or boiled to seasoned or plain, there's a locally-grown peanut option for every preference: Wakefield Peanut Company Make the trip down to Wakefield to check out this shop's plethora of peanut items, or click here to make an order online. Whitley's Peanut Factor This shop has several brick-and-mortar locations throughout the Commonwealth, including Richmond, as well as a variety of shipping options. Click here to view their website. Hope & Harmony If you decide to venture down to Wakefield, take a peek at the variety of nuts and goods offered in-store as well as online. Click here for more information. The Peanut Store Looking to stay local and support a small business? Look no further than this sweet and salty shop, offering not just nuts but candy, ice cream and more. Visit their Facebook page by clicking here. Virginia-made wine WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 7: Wine left to right: Kirkland Barolo 2020; Barboursville Vineyards Nebbiolo Reserve 2020; Rainoldi San Gregorio Rosso di Valtellina Nebbiolo 2020 photographed for Food in Washington, DC on October 7, 2024. (Photo by Scott Suchman for The Washington Post via Getty Images; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Washington Post via Getty Images) For the would-be sommelier friend, there are several different quality wines to chose from that are made right here in Virginia. Visit the vineyards themselves if you're up for a mountain drive, or take advantage of online shipping at the websites below: Jefferson Vineyards - 1353 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville Early Mountain - 6109 Wolftown-Hood Road, Madison Barboursville Vineyards - 17655 Winery Rd, Barboursville Literature The Old Stone House and Enchanted Garden, a shrine to the life and work of Edgar Allan Poe, in Richmond, Virginia, 1943. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) Although he wasn't born in Virginia, famed author Edgar Allan Poe spent a lot of his personal and professional life in Richmond, and even attended the University of Virginia, according to the Poe Museum website. Treat the Virginian in your life to an educational visit to the Poe Museum, or to a copy of one of his novels. According to the Virginia Tourism Corporation, crime and mystery author David Baldacci is also from Virginia (another Richmonder). Let the Virginian in your life know about this literary connection by gifting them one or two of his books. Local artisanal chocolate MCLEAN, VA - DECEMBER 07: General view of chocolates at the Tysons JDRF Event on December 7, 2017 in Mclean, Virginia. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images for David Yurman ) They've got the wine, they've got the salty snack, they've even got a book to read -- now all they need is something sweet to round it all out. Luckily, there's an artisanal chocolate shop that crafts their signature line right here in Virginia. With locations in Charlottesville and Richmond, Gearharts Fine Chocolates offers a unique line up of artisanal chocolates that can be purchased in store or online by clicking here.